SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST is one giant adrenaline kick. It’s like if Red Bull gave you Superman’s powers rather than wings for four days and said you have the freedom to do whatever you want but note Texas barbecue has the same potent effect and that once you fall asleep at 6 a.m., you have to be up in four hours. Compared to 2011, SXSW left the pop voices at the door and unchained a brigade of new talent that crawled about the streets of Austin, blasting thick riffs, vowel-heavy hip hop anthems and intoxicating electronica. As indie rockers Tennis put it, there is “nothing like hearing bands simultaneously outdoors in the wind”. And our team agree; they surrendered to the city for a week, taking in more than 100 acts of the visual rampage that left thousands of attendees numb.
THE BEST: Girls, Nas, Wavves, The Dangerous Summer, Bruce Springsteen’s soon-to-be iconic speech, Best Coast, the rise of rock n’ roll (Bleached, Bass Drum Of Death, Band Of Skulls), lunch shots with Andrew W.K., the large Canadian presence, Zola Jesus, Skrillex v.s. Porter Robinson, Whole Foods, Trash Talk, fun.
THE WORST: Lineups – Fiona Apple and anything with the words “Fader” or “Hype”, drunk co-eds, tornadoes, lack of wi-fi, A$AP/Vice riot, The Doritos Jacked Stage (not Cool Ranch bro), lack of free energy drinks, excess advertising, IHOP addictions, the deceiving Drake/The Weeknd rumour.
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OUR CREW: LEAH BERESFORD + KATE MASEWICH
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KAISER CHIEFS
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ALBERTA CROSS
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YAWN
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OF MONSTERS AND MEN
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THE DANGEROUS SUMMER
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THE BALCONIES
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THE DELTA SPIRIT
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CAVEMAN
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THE WAR ON DRUGS
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THE TWILIGHT SAD
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HANDS & TEETH
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ARKELLS
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BAND OF SKULLS
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EIGHT AND A HALF
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THE WIZARDS
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ANDREW W.K.
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HOWLER
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ZOLA JESUS
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LIGHTS
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THE DARCYS
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DIRTY GHOSTS
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TANLINES
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ZEUS
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GAUNTLET HAIR
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SAID THE WHALE
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CYMBALS EAT GUITARS
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RICH AUCOIN
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